Qiao Yun’s casual "oh" didn’t have any particular aning, but Han Wang, with a guilty conscience, interpreted it as sothing loaded with intent.
Han Wang inexplicably felt uneasy. Should she step forward or stay where she was? Stepping forward might give away her anxiety.
Fortunately, Qiao Yun broke the silence first and asked, "Aren’t you going to see him?"
Han Wang pressed her lips together and forced out a reply, "Fine," before straightening her back and walking resolutely towards the kitchen. She looked as though she was marching off to face so calamity head-on.
Qiao Yun blinked and tilted her head in confusion as she looked at Li Hanzhou. "Did I say sothing wrong?"
Li Hanzhou lowered his head to look at Qiao Yun.
The weather wasn’t too cold today, and Qiao Yun wore only a creamy white, soft sweater. Her slightly wavy long hair draped over her front, and the light reflected off her calm, doe-like features, making her appear even more quiet and well-behaved.
Li Hanzhou’s heart stirred as he raised a hand to pat her on the head. Then, with a trace of amusent, he said, "No, you didn’t say anything wrong. Soone just feels guilty. I had thought the people at Tianqi Research Institute were all like you."
Qiao Yun furrowed her brows in confusion. "Like how?"
"Equally slow to react."
At this point, Li Hanzhou couldn’t help but feel a little bitter. He had worked so hard to secure a place deep in Qiao Yun’s heart.
How could Pei Ya have done it faster than him...
Qiao Yun put on a serious face and protested, "I’m not slow to react."
Li Hanzhou gently hugged her and coaxed her, "Yes, you’re not slow — you’re the smartest of all."
Qiao Yun gave an approving hum, "I’ve always been smart."
Li Hanzhou chuckled softly. His fiancée was truly adorable.
...
Han Wang quietly arrived at the kitchen door. Pei Ya was fully focused on looking at his phone, holding a spoon in his other hand as if he knew what he was doing.
Because he was at ho, he was dressed casually, with his sleeves rolled up and wearing a pair of house slippers. He looked nothing like his usual elite self. Combined with the warm, dostic atmosphere of the kitchen, Han Wang found herself overco by a strange sense of coziness.
Perhaps under the influence of this illusion, she didn’t imdiately call out to Pei Ya. Instead, she leaned against the doorfra and let her gaze linger on him for quite a while.
Perhaps she stared for too long, as Pei Ya eventually sensed her presence.
He turned his head to look at her, his handso and striking features softening with warmth that stretched from the corners of his lips to his eyes. He was dazzlingly radiant.
With a smile in his voice, Pei Ya said, "You’re up? Wait just a mont — the nourishing chicken soup I made for you is almost done. You’ve been so tired lately; you need to take good care of yourself."
Han Wang’s gaze flickered. In that mont, she beca acutely aware of how different her personality was from Pei Ya’s.
At the very least, she would never smile like he did, nor would she consider whether he needed nourishnt.
This made her struggle to understand why soone as cold and dull as herself could be soone Pei Ya liked.
"If I really had to give a reason," Pei Ya said suddenly, "it’s simply because it’s you."
Han Wang froze, realizing too late that she had accidentally spoken her thoughts aloud. Her ears flushed slightly red, though her face maintained its usual calm and indifferent expression. "Sweet-talking flatterer."
Pei Ya chuckled lightly. "If it had been anyone else acting this cold toward , I wouldn’t have bothered with her at all."
After all, he wasn’t a masochist.
But it was different with Han Wang. From her, he thought the aloofness seed a little tsundere and even sowhat endearing.
Han Wang said nothing, only responding blandly with an "oh."
Pei Ya couldn’t help his curiosity.
Why did it feel like Han Wang was treating him better than usual today?
Pei Ya thought about it for a mont before asking, "Why are you suddenly being nicer to ? Why aren’t you mocking ?"
Han Wang: "..."
Han Wang pressed a hand to her forehead and swiftly changed the subject. "Were you the one who sent people after Nolan?"
The news of Nolan’s injury couldn’t be concealed; it had even reached the internet. This ti, though, no one seed to feel sorry for him.
Pei Ya didn’t deny it. "Yes, he had it coming."
Hah.
Anyone who dared set their sights on Han Wang deserved worse than losing a hand — that was rcy.
Han Wang nodded slightly. "He did deserve it."
"So you ca to talk to just to ask this?" Pei Ya teased. "I thought you wanted to see because you missed ."
Han Wang choked on his unexpected comnt, coughing a few tis before glaring at him with a mix of exasperation and amusent. "Don’t you think you’re being a bit conceited?"
Pei Ya replied calmly, "Am I not handso?"
Han Wang stayed silent, as she didn’t lie.
Pei Ya grinned. "So if I’m truly conceited, it’s because I have reason to be."
Han Wang couldn’t hold back a quick laugh—a short, crisp sound—but it was rare enough for Pei Ya to feel as if he’d struck gold.
Finally, she laughed.
Ever since Han Wang had returned to O Continent, how long had it been since he’d seen her smile like this?
Pei Ya knew when to stop and didn’t push his luck further for fear of irritating Han Wang again. He slyly credited himself, saying, "Nolan’s case is just the beginning."
Han Wang imdiately understood the subtext of his words. Her lips parted slightly in surprise. "When did it start?"
"When I found out you were going to get engaged," Pei Ya told her.
Han Wang looked at him in mild astonishnt, not expecting Pei Ya to have prepared his counterasures so early. She had assud Pei Ya would just recklessly act without thinking of the consequences.
"To prevent unforeseen circumstances, preparations need to be made in advance to take the upper hand," Pei Ya said matter-of-factly. "After all, I’m a domineering CEO—naturally, I need to have the assertiveness of one."
Han Wang twitched at the corner of her mouth.
What kind of childish remark was that?
But just as Pei Ya had said, this was only the beginning.
While Andrew was anxiously fretting over Nolan’s injury, an unexpected turn of events was suddenly set into motion...
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